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IDF: Hamas Seeking to Create an Afghanistan in PA Areas

Maj. Gen. Amos Gilad (Jerusalem Post) Maj. Gen. Amos Gilad, Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Tuesday: Hamas is aiming to establish a Taliban-style regime that will take over the Palestinian Authority and create an Afghanistan. As a result of the poor state of the PA, Hamas is already creating an "alternative authority." The PA leadership is doing nothing to stop the Hamas terror infrastructure, and it is actually encouraging the expansion of Hamas's welfare activities. Hamas is trying to take over Palestinian society, and support for the organization has risen from 10% to 20% among the population over the past two years. There is "no hunger" in the PA in terms of a shortage of basic necessities. The malnutrition cited by USAID is due to missing nutrients in the food supplied to the needy in the PA by aid organizations. Israel would do everything possible to facilitate the entry of improved food supplies. There is no connection between the reduction of terror and Israel's humanitarian aid. In the past two years the annual per capita income in the PA has been cut in half from $1,900 to less than $1,000. Some 500,000 Palestinians are employed, but 315,000 of them work for the PA. Unemployment is 40% in Gaza and 30% in the West Bank. The European Union is providing 10 million euros a month, and Arab countries another $55 million, with $14 million collected by the PA in taxes. PA officials, led by Mohammed Rashid, are part of the car-theft ring that has stolen 300,000 vehicles from Israel since 1992. Children continue to be taught in PA schools that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians.
2002-08-07 00:00:00
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